Award-winning Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been removed from officiating duties at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after being denied entry into the United States.

• Omar Abdulkadir Artan was reportedly denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday.
• The decision was made by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) due to "vetting concerns."
• FIFA stated they have no influence over host country immigration decisions and that Artan's status is unlikely to change.

With China's national football team failing to qualify for the World Cup, fans have embraced referee Ma Ning as their representative. The 46-year-old official, nicknamed "Card Master," has become an unlikely viral star, gaining a large following on social media.

• Ma Ning is the only Chinese match referee at the tournament, marking his second World Cup appearance.
• A hashtag related to his trip has garnered over 3.6 million views on Weibo.
• He has appeared in collaborations with brands such as Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu.

Former Harambee Starlets defender Terry Ouko has been appointed by FIFA to a key role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing Kenya on the global stage.

• Ouko will serve as the Sustainability and Human Rights Venue Manager at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
• This appointment ensures Kenya's presence at the tournament, despite the national team failing to qualify.
• Ouko's responsibilities include overseeing FIFA's sustainability and human rights framework, ensuring operations align with global standards on inclusion, safeguarding, and environmental responsibility.